Rome, the stages of the waste-to-energy plant: construction sites to start in July 2024, operational from summer 2026

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The waste-to-energy plant in Rome, a project strongly desired by the mayor Robert Gualtieri and one of the most important pieces of his administration in the medium to long term, continues to divide the opposition parties. The M5s presented an agenda to the Pnrr decree which will be Thursday 20 April in the Chamber in the Chamber. The secretary of the Pd Elly Schlein has not yet spoken but the exponents of his party are shielding and accusing the Five Stars of creating problems for the other opposition political forces rather than for the government. In the meantime, the project and the technical passages are going ahead with a tight schedule.

Plant of 600 thousand tons per year

The plant to close the waste cycle in the capital, with a treatment capacity of 600,000 tonnes a year, will be built in the Santa Palomba area, on the extreme outskirts of Rome (on the border with Ardea and Pomezia). According to the plans of the mayor (who since May 2022 is also extraordinary commissioner for the Jubilee and can exercise powers assigned to the Region, including that of preparing and adopting the waste management plan of Rome Capital) will become operational by September 2026. It cannot be achieved by the Jubilee of 2025 but the mayor has never shown worried: “The approved transition plan” has explained in the past an excellent starting point, in which “stable outlets” are envisaged.

The waste-to-energy plant will be built with a project financing system and “on land that will be granted” to the builders “by Ama for consideration”, explained Gualtieri. The commissioner’s plan provides for a public contribution “to 49 percent of the total with a ceiling of 40 million euros”, while the estimated costs for the construction would be 700 million euros.

Acea Ambiente’s proposal

In December, the Municipality, after having signed the ordinance, issued an exploratory public notice, for the search for economic operators interested in the presentation of proposals for project financing aimed at identifying the promoter, for the assignment in concession of the design, construction and operation of the plant complex. The term of the notice, which arrived on 1 March, saw the presentation by Acea Ambiente of its expression of interest.

The call for tenders in August

After verification by the administration of Acea’s response to the notice, a Commission for the technical and economic evaluation of the project was set up with a duration of 60 days which will expire on 30 April. At the end of this step, the process requires that the proposal be declared of public interest. After that, the municipal structures will prepare the tender which will be published on 1 August, with a deadline of 30 October.